The Lagos government says it saved an estimated N289.74 billion and rehabilitated 27,529 offenders between 2012 and 2025 through its community service scheme.

The attorney general of Lagos, Lawal Pedro, described the scheme as a major pillar of justice reform and prison decongestion in the state.

Mr Pedro also revealed that each offender placed on community service instead of custodial detention saved the government about N1.06 million annually. He said this underscored the financial and social impact of the non-custodial sentencing programme.

The attorney general said this on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ sensitisation programme on the community service scheme held at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja.

The justice sector stakeholders, civil society organisations and former beneficiaries reviewed the impact of the initiative.

Mr Pedro said the success of the scheme depended on sustained stakeholder participation and public support. According to him, modern criminal justice systems must go beyond punishment and focus on reform, behavioural change and reintegration.

“The administration of criminal justice in any modern society must continually evolve to reflect changing realities and emerging best practices,” Mr Pedro said.

Mr Pedro explained that the Community Service Unit of the Ministry of Justice served as the operational hub for implementing court-ordered community service. He said the unit handled offender assessment, placement, monitoring and reporting.

While presenting an analysis of the scheme’s performance, Mr Pedro said that the programme had become one of the most impactful alternatives to imprisonment in Lagos.

The attorney general said this was beyond the cumulative 27,529 offenders supervised over 14 years under the scheme. He added that data revealed that 3,109 offenders were recorded in 2018, the highest annual figure. According to him, 2,684 cases were recorded in 2024, while 1,451 were recorded in 2025 so far, indicating evolving trends in sentencing and rehabilitation.

Mr Pedro also said that Lagos Island and Ikeja recorded the highest concentration of offenders in 2025. He said Lagos Island recorded 727 cases (50 per cent), while Ikeja recorded 418 cases (29 per cent).

According to Mr Pedro, the concentration highlights the need for targeted community interventions in high-density justice zones.

Despite the achievements, the attorney-general identified challenges, including manpower shortages, limited public awareness, inadequate placement opportunities, and logistical constraints.

He urged stronger private-sector participation through corporate social responsibility initiatives, vocational training, mentorship, and structured work placements.

“The private sector has an important role to play in offender rehabilitation and reintegration,” he said.

(NAN)